On November 3^rd, 2008, the Technological Top Institute BioMedical Materials has opened its Second Call for Proposals. The deadline for submitting proposals for this Second Call for BMM will be Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 17:00 h.

 

The BioMedical Materials program (BMM) is a public-private partnership which aims to secure the Netherlands’ position in the world market of biomedical materials and applications, combining national and international industrial and academic strengths to further this field and its impact on the economy, healthcare and society as a whole.

 

The BMM Strategic Research Agenda is embedded in a framework of five Technology Platforms and four Disease Areas. The Technology Platforms and Disease Areas have been selected on the basis of their impact on public healthcare, economic relevance and the potential of biomedical materials to enable breakthrough innovations.

 

BMM projects are performed by academia and industry in close cooperation.

 

 

Scope

BMM invites consortia of academia, research institutes and industry to submit proposals for research projects that fit within the call objectives. Proposals should directly fit into one or more of the Research Lines (see http://www.bmm-program.nl/, “Research Program”, “Strategic Research Agenda”). During the Second Call for Proposals Research Line 1 (Cardiovascular) is closed as the total budget for this Research Line has been allocated during the First Call for Proposals. The tentative budgets for the remaining Research Lines are indicated below:

 

       RL-2 Musculoskeletal:       M€ 11

       RL-3 Nephrology:              M€ 13

       RL-4 Coatings:                  M€   3

       RL-5 Drug delivery:            M€ 11

 

Given the fact that the BMM program will be composed of a comprehensive set of projects, project proposals are expected to address their contribution to the overall program objectives in sufficient detail, both qualitatively and quantitatively, to enable adequate reviewing and ranking.

Objectives

The overall objectives of BMM may be summarized as:

       To perform top quality research. BMM will strengthen the international position of the Netherlands in the field of biomedical materials by driving scientific and technological breakthroughs, enabling public-private and inter-institutional collaboration and educating a top-of-the-line workforce;

       To generate economic value. BMM will seize potentially valuable economic opportunities for biomedical materials in the healthcare sector, attract investments and stimulate entrepreneurial activities;

       To create clinical value. BMM will deliver innovative therapies with a clear patient benefit, and in the long term contribute to a cost effective Dutch healthcare system via containment and reduction of direct and/or indirect healthcare costs.

 

 

Outlook

Since BMM addresses precompetitive research in the healthcare area, it will typically take 5-10 years after completion of a research project until new technologies and applications enter into clinical practice.

 

 

Further information

All necessary documents can be found on the BMM website. http://www.bmm-program.nl/, 2^nd Call for Proposals (“Call description” and “Call documents”). In case you have a need for any do not hesitate and contact us at office@bmm-program.nl.

 

We look forward to receiving your Expression of Interest, followed by your Proposal.

BioMedical Materials program (BMM)

 

 

A.G.J. Staring, PhD                                                                 Prof F.P.T. Baaijens, PhD

Managing Director                                                                    Scientific Director